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"The Cocktail Party (Love, Mary) Classic Collection Deluxe Hors D'oeuvres Box" Wins New Product sofi(TM) Award

Specialty Food Association

The “Everything Pigs In A Pie” frozen savory bite is the 2021 New Product Winner in the category of Appetizers & Snacks

New York, NY (May 6, 2021) – With a brand-new foray into the frozen food arena this past holiday season with its “Love, Mary” brand, celebrated “Caterer To The Stars” Mary Giuliani Catering & Events is thrilled to announce it has won the New Product Award in the Appetizer & Snacks category, as part of the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) 2021 sofi™ Awards, a top honor in the $158 billion specialty food industry.

The “Everything Pig In A Pie” from the “The Cocktail Party (Love, Mary) Classic Collection Deluxe Hors D’oeuvres Box” was one of 130 winners selected from nearly 1,500 entries across 49 product categories. Products are judged in an anonymous sampling for taste - including flavor, appearance, texture and aroma - ingredient quality, and innovation. The sofi judging was held at the prestigious Rutgers Food Innovation Center in April following strict safety guidelines.

“We are over the moon that one of our first introductions into frozen food, The ‘Everything Pig In A Pie’ from our ‘Love, Mary’ brand has won a New Product Award,” says Mary Giuliani, Co-Founder and CEO of Mary Giuliani Catering & Events. “To be recognized by the industry for our commitment to quality and flavor is a big honor. The sofi Awards are ultimate stamps of approval and we’re proud to claim the New Product recognition this year.”

The “Everything Pig In A Pie” is part of the new “Love, Mary” collection that debuted last year for the holidays at Macys.com. With 72 pieces of savory bites to feed a small crowd of 8-10 people, “The Cocktail Party Classic Collection” gives hosts an effortless solution to the time-old question: What am I serving my guests? The assortment includes Mary’s Mini Beet Clouds, Pastrami Tarts, Lasagna Bites, Chicken Pot Pies, Spicy Mac & Cheese Cupcakes and (the winning product!) Everything Pigs In A Pie (each of which come with its own seasoning salts to amp up the flavors). The ultimate easy-but-elegant perfect party plan for anyone who wants to make a Saturday (or Tuesday!) night both delicious and special instantly sold out on the retailer’s website. The collection was included in Oprah’s Valentine’s Day O List  for February 2021 and currently is available here.

The sofi Awards competition is open annually to members of the Specialty Food Association. The Awards have been given each year since 1972. They recognize extraordinary specialty food and beverage products and the people who create them.

About Mary Giuliani Catering & Events and the “Love, Mary” brand

Since 2005, MGCE has been providing clients with the latest in food, beverage and hospitality trends, thoughtfully providing the best of New York’s fashion, art and entertainment communities with unique, approachable and memorable experiences. Its signature events are creative, playful and always down-to-earth. The MGCE team remains deeply committed to the literal feast of the senses in every party planned, every tray passed, and every drink poured. In the downtime that was 2020, just on the heels of celebrating our 15th year in business, we finally had the opportunity that we'd been dreaming about for years: a chance to launch our frozen food collection. We culled through our recipes and created an assortment of our favorite bites, reinterpreted for easy-breezy heating and serving at home or gifting to friends and family, perfect for curing the kitchen doldrums. We're thrilled to present our new deluxe hors d'oeuvres box, “The Cocktail Party (Love, Mary) Classic Collection.”

About the Specialty Food Association

The Specialty Food Association (SFA), is the leading trade association and source of information about the $158.4 billion specialty food industry. Founded in 1952 in New York City, the SFA represents makers, importers, retailers, distributors, and others in the trade. The SFA is known for its Fancy Food Shows; the sofi™ Awards, which honor excellence in specialty food and beverage; Trendspotter Panel Show reports and annual predictions; the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report; the Product  Marketplace database, featuring specialty foods and beverages in 161 categories and sub-categories; Infinite Aisle, a new ecommerce marketplace that enables SFA Members to make buyer-maker connections and sales year-round; and Specialty Food LIVE!™, a digital marketplace experience.

“Love, Mary” Media Contact:

Abbe Aronson, [email protected], 845-399-3596

Or:

[email protected], 212-500-0854

Specialty Food Association Media Contact:

PR Department, [email protected]